As a celebration and/or promotion of the new record deal, Grande Rock has been re-released on all major streaming platforms, for the first time ever. A reminder of this fan favourite will serve as an adequate promotion for their upcoming album, as of yet untitled. Accompanying this re-release is a remastered version of their music video for “The Devil Stole The Beat From The Lord”, a major single and cult classic from Grande Rock. See the video below.

Grande Rock was a major release, with drummer Robert Eriksson noting that it “turned out to be a landmark album and the first one of ours that was released simultaneously in May 1999 by four different labels in four different continents”, spawning a gargantuan world tour where they played 130 shows in 25 different countries. Nuclear Blast Records are thus doing a great service to the fans for releasing it on modern streaming platforms, honouring its legacy. Listen to Grande Rock below.

Formed in 1994, The Hellacopters enjoyed well over a decade of success in the genre, before going on a lengthy hiatus, from 2008 to 2016. Despite dropping the EP My Mephistophelean Creed in 2016, they have not released a studio album since their return. Their upcoming album will be their first since 2008, and their eighth in total. Of the new release, frontman Nick Andersson comments “I know I said this was never gonna happen but I was wrong”, “good times ahead indeed!”

Their split in 2008 was reported to be amicable, though with little mentioned as to the reasons why, with the band disclosing that “the reasons behind this very difficult decision are many and too personal to go into here”, as per Caught in the Crossfire. The members since went on to work on other projects, with a total of thirteen projects amongst all the groups members, among them including Dundertåget, The Hydromatics, and The Solution.

To preempt their release next spring, The Hellacopters are hitting the road once again, starting their pre-album tour in Oslo on the 15th of December. They are doing an additional tour after the release, starting on the 8th of June, with more dates to come. See ticket information here and tour dates below.

15/12/2021 – Sentrum Scene – Oslo, Norway
17/12 – Globen – Stockholm, Sweden
18/12 – Göransson Arena – Sandviken, Sweden
19/12 – Luttako – Jyväskylä, Finland
20/12 – Tavastia, Helsinki, Finland
21/12 – Tavastia, Helsinki, Finland

08-11/06/2022 – Sweden Rock, Sweden
15-18/06 – Copenhell, Denmark
16/07 – Ingolstadt, Phnx Rising Festival, Germany
27/08 – Hamburg, Damage Done Fest, Germany

The band issued the following statement on their social media channels yesterday: “We are extremely excited to partner with Nuclear Blast worldwide for the forthcoming release of our second album. Having spent the last year or so getting to know Monte Conner, we count ourselves lucky to be working with not only a true legend in the world of heavy music, but one who continues to champion exciting, forward-thinking art.”

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Following the overwhelmingly positive reception of their debut 4-track EP I (2016) and its follow-up Mire, Conjurer had a busy 2019 releasing the brilliant collaborative project Curse These Metal Hands with Pijn and a cover split with Palm Reader. In September 2020 their previous independent label Holy Roar Records was hit by mass allegations against its owner, with certain staff members and leading acts like Rolo Tomasi, Svalbard and Apologies, I Have None all leaving amidst the public scandal. As a result, Conjurer were amongst the bands that respectfully cut all ties with the company with no further comment, and focused on their future.

Yesterday’s band statement confirmed the extreme outfit have been working with industry titan Monte Connor in preparation for their hugely anticipated second album. Previously from Roadrunner Records, Connor joined Nuclear Blast in 2012 and boosts an impressive portfolio, with the likes of Slipknot, Trivium and King Diamond worth mentioning standing out from the the endless list of hugely influential metal acts. His recent partnership with Conjurer pushed the promising young act into joining the international division of Nuclear Blast, adding:

“We’ve now also been introduced to Barley and the rest of the international team at NB and it’s evident that they understand our mentality and want nothing more than to support and nourish our creativity. In what has been an awful year on so many levels, we are grateful to have found the right home for our music. We look forward to working together with NB to bring you our sophomore album in 2021, and much more in the years to follow.”

We are extremely excited to partner with @nuclearblast worldwide for the forthcoming release of our second album. Full statement on FB/Insta. pic.twitter.com/s0rQgUIzMI — Conjurer (@ConjurerUK) February 3, 2021

With the exciting announcement of the new record deal with Nuclear Blast out of the way, Conjurer can direct all their energy into preparing the release of their second album. Official title, artwork and tracklist are yet to be confirmed but stay tuned for further updates and upcoming promotional singles. As Nuclear Blast have already added to their updated artists roster page, “the future of British metal lies in safe hands with Conjurer, who continue their journey as the country’s most exciting young metal band with their signing“.

So far, the Rugby quartet have three festival appearances booked for Summer 2021. On 30 July Conjurer will perform on Radar Festival alongside Dirty Loops, Sleep Token and Palm Reader, followed by 14 August for the second day of the huge Bloodstock Open Air, supporting Mercyful Fate, Dimmu Borgir, Paradise Lost, Bury Tomorrow, and more. Conjurer are also set to feature on the 2021 edition of the more prog and experimental-focused ArcTanGent Festival, bringing their Curse These Metal Hands collaboration with Pijn on Friday 20 August.

“The latest offering from Yorkshire’s finest merchants of misery features new music composed in the style the band have made their own over three decades which continues their relevance within the scene today. Macabre Cabaret is as menacing and brooding as it is beautiful and melancholic with crushing guitar riffs sailing side by side with emotive piano pieces and vocals to suit all flavours.”

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Macabre Cabaret is the band’s second release this year following their thirteenth full studio album The Ghost of Orion that came out on 6 March 2020. The record marked their first release for the renowned German metal label Nuclear Blast Records, having previously spent the entirety of their almost career with Peaceville Records. It was also the first studio release to feature new drummer Jeff Singer, who joined My Dying Bride in 2018 having previously performed with Paradise Lost, China Beach, Blaze and City of Gold.

Macabre Cabaret is produced, mastered and mixed by Mark Mynett of Mynetaur Production, a renowned producer/engineer with an extensive showreel, Music Technology university lecturer and autor of the acclaimed ‘Metal Music Manual‘ book. The sinister artwork is designed by the Italian artist Bunker Artworks and is praised by Stainthorpe for perfectly capturing the band’s image and “offering a visual interpretation of the aural devastation that is My Dying Bride.” Macabre Cabaret is out now on all digital platforms, as well as standard CD, LP and limited edition coloured vinyl all available to order here.

The official music video for the EP’s title track was directed and broduced by Hal and Beth Sinden of Eulogy Media and Dan Newcomb for Nuclear Media & Production. It reflects the melancholic and macabre feel of the song and is described by the band as “a visual treat for lovers of gothic menace and doom-heavy art”. Aaron Stainthorpe adds: “A provocative story is played out to sombre overtones with a climax sitting well inside the shadows of malice as the band are dramatised in silhouette shade and smoky aplomb”.

Formed in 1990 in Bradford, My Dying Bride are hailed as one of the godfathers of the doom and gothic metal alongside Paradise Lost and Anathema, collectively known as the “Peaceville Three” for their shared time at the label and similar artistic approach. My Dying Bride boast an extensive discography of thirtheen studio albums, seven compilations, two live albums and seven EPs with Macabre Cabaret becoming the latest gem in their admirable and productive career.

Despite having the reputation as one of the most influantial doom bands in the UK and with strong roots in the local gothic scene, My Dying Bride appear to be a lot more popular in Central and Northern Europe, and signing for Nuclear Blast is sure to further boost their status on the continent. The band’s albums are frequent chart entries in Finland and Germany, with their latest The Ghost of Orion scoring #34 in the Finnish Albums Chart and a record #12 in the Official German Chart. 

My Dying Bride are Aaron Stainthorpe (vocals), Andrew Craighan (guitars), Lena Abé (bass), Shaun MacGowan (violin, keyboards), Jeff Singer (drums) and Neil Blanchett (guitars).

A few words from Aaron regarding the delay with the Splatter vinyl!

Make sure to check out our new music video for “Macabre Cabaret” here: https://t.co/XvpXJVLJI3

Listen/Download the EP here: https://t.co/Ojn08ruDqB pic.twitter.com/Uklc3lIoG6

— My Dying Bride (@Official_MDB) November 20, 2020